Las Vegas Police Department Unveils Tesla Cybertrucks

Last month, the Las Vegas Police Department introduced an exciting new fleet of tactical vehicles to its city streets: an assortment of Tesla Cybertrucks. These robust vehicles, adorned with a striking black-and-white vinyl wrap, are equipped with emergency lights and sirens, presenting a more modern, angular take on the conventional police car. This rollout marks Las Vegas as the first city in the United States to deploy these futuristic trucks, strongly associated with Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, who is renowned as the world’s richest individual.

Innovative Police Work

During a recent press conference to unveil the vehicles, Sheriff Kevin McMahill emphasized their significance, stating, “They represent something far bigger than just a police car. They represent innovation.” The announcement concerning this fleet of ten electric Cybertrucks gained traction in February when McMahill shared renderings on social media, expressing enthusiasm by declaring, “These are badass,” and indicating that the force would be using them soon. An Instagram post from the department noted that the entire fleet was generously donated by an anonymous benefactor, sparking speculation about the donor’s identity.

The Mysterious Donation

The donation soon revealed itself to be from Ben Horowitz, co-founder of the Silicon Valley venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, along with his wife, Felicia Horowitz. They publicly announced their contribution shortly after McMahill shared the vehicle images. Horowitz’s firm has a long-standing history of investing in technology ventures and played a significant role, to the tune of $400 million, in aiding Musk’s acquisition of Twitter in 2022.

In response to the announcement, Musk commented on social media with a cool emoji, reflecting his approval. However, not everyone is enthusiastic about the incorporation of these Cybertrucks into police work. Athar Haseebullah, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, expressed concern, stating that the use of futuristic vehicles like the Cybertruck could be misconstrued as an endorsement of Musk’s persona rather than addressing community safety needs.

Public Sentiment and Backlash

Haseebullah noted, “I recognize that LVMPD sees value in having cool-looking vehicles around, and it projects modernity. But communities want to feel safer; I’m not sure a Tesla Cybertruck achieves that.” This sentiment echoes challenges faced by other cities contemplating Tesla vehicles for their governmental fleets. For instance, Baltimore initially planned to invest $5 million in Tesla sedans but later abandoned the project due to public pushback. Similarly, King County in Washington faced community resistance for its decision to purchase Tesla vehicles for its carpooling program. Additionally, several smaller towns in California reported that officers found the Tesla models inadequate for law enforcement tasks.

In Las Vegas, however, the police department remains optimistic, with Sheriff McMahill affirming that no taxpayer money was utilized for acquiring the Cybertrucks, as they were entirely donated.

Details of the Donation

The Horowitz family, long-time supporters of the Las Vegas police force, provided ten Cybertrucks specifically for patrolling, with an additional “sting protector” meant for special weapons and tactics (SWAT) operations. The estimated value of this donation reaches approximately $2.7 million and was formalized in January 2025 through a charitable organization aimed at supporting law enforcement. In internal communications, Mike Gennaro, the police department’s chief of staff, expressed optimism, stating that the new vehicles would significantly boost morale among officers.

The police department awaited the Cybertrucks for about ten months while they underwent specialized upgrades by UpFit, a company focused on retrofitting Teslas for policing purposes. Among the installed features were barrier shields, ladders, radios, and other essential tactical gear. Notably, adjustments were made after the department requested the removal of Tesla’s “beast mode,” a feature allowing for rapid acceleration.

Continued Development and Challenges

Horowitz has demonstrated a strong commitment to enhancing police capabilities in Las Vegas, contributing around $8 million in technology over recent years, including license plate readers and drones. However, he does not invest in Tesla itself.

Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the Cybertrucks, Tesla faces ongoing challenges, including declining sales and recalls due to various issues, such as problematic side panels and unforeseen acceleration events. Notably, the Cybertruck was publicly criticized when its reinforced glass shattered during a demonstration at its launch event in 2019.

Haseebullah questioned the decision to choose Cybertrucks over more traditional options, asking, “Why would a Tesla be more efficient for police than a Ford?” The Las Vegas police department claimed it managed the recalls before putting the Cybertrucks on patrol. Sheriff McMahill defended the choice, advocating that these vehicles mark a leap into advanced policing technology, declaring, “These trucks are high performance, and they’re built tough.”

Conclusion

The integration of Tesla Cybertrucks into the Las Vegas police force signals a bold step toward modernization in law enforcement. While the initiative brings excitement and innovation, it also raises vital questions about community perceptions of safety and the practicality of using such vehicles in policing efforts.

Key Takeaways:

• Las Vegas Police Department has introduced Tesla Cybertrucks as part of its fleet.
• The vehicles were donated anonymously, later revealed to be from Ben Horowitz and his wife.
• The donation aimed to enhance police morale and modernize the force.
• Challenges regarding the vehicles’ suitability for policing and public sentiment persist.